FAG-ENDS AND SALIENT FEATURES. 162 The Ypres Times. careful aim, the subaltern made a movement of restraint, but the other shook his head impatiently and fired. The R.A.M.C. officer reached the two bodies first, and as he came upon them he gave a great cry. John Milligan! he exclaimed puzzledAnd his brother, I think? added the subaltern. The English are not a talkative people at any time, and on such an occasion as this, words were obviously superfluous. We had better say nothing about this," said the officer after a pause it is the simplest way, though I don't understand I think I understand everything," said the subaltern slowly, but I shall say nothing." For the sake of the regiment, you know," added the officer. Yes," replied the junior, for the sake of the regiment." And, as if in mockery, the warm rays of the morning sun shone down on that scene of desolation and death. Reproduced, by kind permission of the Bermondsey Book. By W. H. DUNCAN ARTHUR. Faugh and the world laughs with you That's how one poet puts it and another wrote Care to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt, and every grin so merry draws one out." The wonderful cheerfulness of the British Armies under all conditions amazed our Allies in the Great War. I think it was an American who said If an earthquake were to engulf England to-morrow, the English would manage to meet and dine somehow among the rub bish just to celebrate the event." He is probably right. One thing is certainwithout the humorous trait in the national character, it would have been almost impossible to have endured the horror and constant misery of life in the Ypres Salient. We are again passing through trying times, and unfortunately ex-service men are perhaps the greatest sufferers and, just as in the old days, a joke would cheer us on our way, so I trust the re calling of some of the humour then displayed will help to lighten the hearts of some of our comrades who are now manfully enduring other trials and disappointments. You will all remember the old exercise of passing verbal messages along the line." A battalion was extended in open order engaged in this harmless occupation and the follow ing were some of the results achieved. The first message sent by the Captain was Send up reinforcements to the right when this arrived at the other end it was Send us three and fourpence for the night." Hoping for better luck next time he altered the message slightly to Send up reinforce ments, we are going to advance this was altered to Send us three and fourpence, we are going to a dance." The next order passed was Charge the hill which landed as Charge like Hell." An officer asked a man how many composed a certain digging party at work in a field, so distant that the men appeared as mere dots. Private Sixteen men and a corporal, sir." Officer Quite right, but how did you know there was a corporal there Private He's not working, sir."

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1927 | | pagina 16